Quick Question: Going shopping for my new Phal!

[bnaz]

I'm going out to the nursery to do some shopping. I bought a little mini Phal from my grocery store (2" pot) on a whim. I've since educated myself enough about orchids (and gotten advice here on the forums) to know that the potting medium they used (moss) is going bad and that I should repot, despite that it's in blossom. My 'chid has some root issues, but I think it's repairable! I'm hoping, at least! I bought it on Friday, and it had four blossoms and a bud. The bud opened yesterday-- it's so cute!

Here's what I've got on my shopping list:
- potting mix
- small colander, to drain mix in
- pair of clippers, "pruning snips"
- pot
- fertilizer

For the potting mix, I'm thinking something bark-based. I think I might be one of those with a tendancy toward over-watering (just because I like to be a little more active with my plant?) so I was wondering what you could reccommend, specifically, taking into consideration my orchid is a little smaller?

For the pot, I was thinking about trying to find a clear one. I hear that orchid roots are capable of photosynthesis? Is a clear pot something I should pursue, or will it be too much of a shock to my plant during repotting?

For fertilizer, I was recommended (in a previous thread) to look into Better-Gro's Orchid Plus (fertilizer) and Better-Gro's Orchid Bloom Booster. Would these be okay?

Thanks for your help! These are just a few quick questions. I'll be heading out to a big local nursery within the hour; hoping they'll have the supplies I need! ( I attached pictures of my little Phal: a "before" picture from Friday, and an "after" picture after the new flower blossomed. )

[Gage]

I am a huge advocate of switching newly purchased orchids from sphagnum moss to something more barky. But not in the case of Phals in pots under 4". I have just switched all of my mini Phals from coconut husk chips back to sphagnum moss because they were not staying moist enough, and the lower leaves would wilt. My minis are now in sphagnum, in 2-4 inch plastic slotted pots with lots of drainage/aeration holes in the bottom. Since switching them a couple of weeks ago, they have all perked up, and seem to dry out in a weeks time, which is just about right. With the coconut husk chips, even with spritzing the surface twice a day and watering once a week, the bottom leaves would stay wilted on some of my mini Phals. Just my 2 cents of recent experience.

[WhiteRabbit]

Gage - the couple times I have potted Phals in chc, they have looked decidely unhappy - I don't know why that is - they do fine in bark tho, go figure (have also grown in sphag, so don't think overwatering is the problem with chc)

bnaz- sounds good
I like bark for Phals, just have had better luck with them that way - a good chunky bark mix for orchids (I have heard to stay away from Miracle Gro orchid mix - apparently it's EXTREMELY fine) - or if you can't find a good mix, medium to coarse fir bark for orchids (labeled for orchids, not just mulch), some perlite, charcoal (for plants, potting) if you like (I don't much use charcoal anymore, myself)

I like clear pots for phals, as I have been a phal overwaterer in the past, and after taking advice from OB members to water by the root color (water when roots are white or silvery), I've done much better with them - but it may be difficult to find them in a store (then again, you may find them). Since I also use a skewer in my orchid pots, I've determined by checking root color of Phals and the skewer, to water when they are very nearly dry, so I feel ok growing them in opaque pots now too. Yes, Phal roots can photosynthesize, so that's another reason people grow them in clear pots - it isn't necessary tho.

I just use a 6" or larger pot with drainage to drain my potting media

gl!

[Ironwood]

Phals of any size do not adjust well to transplant from sphagnum moss to straight bark so a little sphag mixed in with bark should help for the first repotting. From bark to sphag is no problem.

[Gage]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Gage - the couple times I have potted Phals in chc, they have looked decidely unhappy - I don't know why that is - they do fine in bark tho, go figure (have also grown in sphag, so don't think overwatering is the problem with chc)

I guess everyone can have different experience with the same things. I bought a large Phal in straight CHC, and it had beautiful leaves, tons and tons of healthy roots, and zero root rot. So, I decided to switch ALL my Phals. The big ones are super happy, little ones didn't like it so they went to mostly sphag. The CHC I bought came from a reputable orchid supply dealer, and it distinctly smells like vinegar. Maybe they use vinegar to disinfect it? I also heard coconut husk in all forms is cleaned in salt water first. So it has to be washed by the orchid supply dealer or someone in the chain. I always give it 2 or 3 rinses before I use it. Maybe there was salt residue in yours?? But you would have probably seen it when it dries out.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Gage

I guess everyone can have different experience with the same things. I bought a large Phal in straight CHC, and it had beautiful leaves, tons and tons of healthy roots, and zero root rot. So, I decided to switch ALL my Phals. The big ones are super happy, little ones didn't like it so they went to mostly sphag. The CHC I bought came from a reputable orchid supply dealer, and it distinctly smells like vinegar. Maybe they use vinegar to disinfect it? I also heard coconut husk in all forms is cleaned in salt water first. So it has to be washed by the orchid supply dealer or someone in the chain. I always give it 2 or 3 rinses before I use it. Maybe there was salt residue in yours?? But you would have probably seen it when it dries out.

the chc is reportedly 'washed', and I soak and rinse it prior to use, and most of my other orchids (mostly Onc and Catt alliances) have done great with it - so, I'm baffled I know I have read others using chc for Phals with good results ... Perhaps there have been other factors involved, and wasn't the chc itself